Film Screening: “Martírio”

Co-directed by Vincent Carrelli, Ernesto de Carvalho, and Tatiana Almeida, the film documents the situation of the Guarani-Kaiowá in southern Brazil, at its most critical point in over a hundred years of struggles with the government and agricultural interests.

“Martírio” is the result of years of work of Carelli as an indigenous expert and filmmaker. Released in April 2017, it gathers archival and historical footage, new footage of Guarani-Kaiowá representatives, and scenes from hearings in the Brazilian Congress. The film has won prizes in festivals including the Mar del Plata Film Festival, the São Paulo International Film Festival, and the Brazilian Film Festival of Brasília.

The film documents the fight of these communities against the ongoing violations of their human rights, while offering a brilliant image of their culture and history. It is the second part of a trilogy documenting decades of indigenous struggle in Brazil, which started with the documentary “Corumbiara” (2015).

The Guarani-Kaiowá are an indigenous people living in Mato Grosso do Sul, the Brazilian state with highest incidence of anti-indigenous violence, with intense conflicts between the communities and influential landowners, as ancestral lands are taken to make way for industrial farming of soy, corn, or sugarcane.

Co-director Tatiana Almeida will introduce the film and offer a Q&A after the screening.